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(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. R. AVERY.

GAR COUPLING. No. 315,884. Patented Apr. 14, 1885.

(No Model.) 7 2 SheetsSheet 2.

J. R. AVERY.

OAR COUPLING.

No. 315,884. Patented Apr. 14, 1885.

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UNITED Sra'rss Arsivr tries.

JAMES R. AVERY, or LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPEGIFi-GATIQN forming part of Letters Patent We, 315,884, dated April 14, 1885,

Application filed July 3, 18%.

.To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, J AMES R. AVERY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Separable Coupling Combination, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in couplings for street and railroad cars, engines, and tenders; and it consists in the combina tion of an automatic separable coupler, drawbar, guide-rest, springs, and attachments.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is ahorizontal sectional plan of the separable coupling combination made in accordance with my invention.' Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the coupling-head detached. Fig. 4 is a detail'view of the draw-bar. Figs. 5 and 6 are detached views of the guiderest and spring, respectively. Fig. 7 is a plan of the link. Fig. Sis a perspective view of the entire combination.

A,Figs.1 and 2,represents the coupler, made, in accordance with my invention, of any suit able material, preferably of castiron, having acoupling-link, L, and pin P, the form and dimensions of which determine the configuration and dimensions of the coupler and its cavities. The part A comprises a circular front with link-opening having quarter-circle walls A and A converging from the contour of said front and blending with the semicircle and three-quarter-circle walls of inner cavity, a, of elliptical form, and link-rest a of crescent form,for reception, guidance, entrance, elevation, and operation of the coupling-link, a pin-hole, ,H, for the reception and operation of the coupling-pin, and a seat, N, for its occupation preparatory to a coupling, a clutch end separable device having three sections, D D D, of equal width and thickness, the upper and lower of equal length, and the center section about three times the length of either with a vertical hole, 0, through its center, or an equivalent device for convenient attachment and separation.

Brepresents the draw-bar, made,preferably, of wrought-iron, in the form of asquare-ended link: or rectangled parallelogram doubled, providing vertical and horizontal openings at (No model.)

(1, each equal and bisecting the other longitudinally.

I is a guiderest having three sides ofarectangled parallelogram fitted upon the vertical end of the draw-bar with its parallel sides extending on each side, and secured thereto with the bankey 13 passing through mortise-holes provided in said parallel sides immediately behind the vertical sections to which the angles of the guide-rest l are closely fitted, for combination and other purposes hereinafter set forth.

S represents the springs, made of any suitable material, preferably of fine spring-steel in crimp form, with depending right-angled ends, having a small hole through each for the reception of a small rod, 12, or other equiva' lent device for securing it in the draw-bar. This rod 1) may also pass through a hole in the key It, to secure it in place.

The devices for attachment to the car-frame are made of any suitable material, preferably of wrought-iron bars 0 C. These bars have front angles, 1 2 3, and rear angles, 0 0 In the vertical sides of angles 1 and G mortiseholes are provided to receive the tenons made on ends of the guide-bars g g, which are secured therein in a longitudinal vertical position. These bars have a mortise-hole through each equally distant from corresponding angles 1 and G, for the reception and security of the coordinate bar U, having a inortisehole through each end provided with pins, bolts, keys, or other fastenings, This co-ordinate bar is provided with a mortise-hole through its center for the reception of the ends of the crimp-spring, as hereinafter more fully set forth. l

R is a hanger or rest having the form of a rectangled parallelogram, or other form con forming to the contour of the coupler, which is supported therein. Its purposes will more fully appear in the combination.

To combine, attach, and operate my separable coupling combination, place upon the end cross timber or bar provided for the purpose on each side, and equally distant from the central line of the car, engine, or tender frame, the angles 2 of the connecting-bar O G, and upon the cross timber or bar provided in the rear of the first at a proper distance therefrom, and parallel thereto 5 place the angles (3 parallel each to the other, with the angles 3 of each projecting in front of the front cross timber or bar sufficient to receive the hanger or rest R, placed within said angles and depending therefrom, place draw-bar B, with guiderest I secured thereto, between guide-bars g y, then pass co-ordinate bar U, or its equivalent, through the mortise-hole of either guidebar 9, through the horizontal opening of drawbar B, into the mortise hole of the other guide-bar, and secure it, therein as provided; place coupler A in said rest R, with the center section, D, of separable device in the horizontal opening d of said draw-bar B, with the upper and lower sections, D and D, fitting closely and clutching firmly the horizontal ends of said draw-bar B; place in the vertical opening of said draw-bar B .two springs,

as S S, with one right-angled end of each rest- .ing in the vertical mortise-hole through the tical mortise-hole O of the clutch end of separable device, and one right-angled end of the other spring S upon the bar-key i, behind and between it and the horizontal end of the guiderest I. To more firmly secure the combination in operation, place key h in the mortisehole 0, of the clutch-end separable device of the coupler A, in front of and upon the angle of spring S, and secure it with the small rod p, or equivalent, fastenedin the holes provided.

Oars, engines, and tenders thus provided, one having the link L secured at one end with-. in the cavity a of the coupler A, with the pin P therein, the outer end of said link is elevated and held within the radius off/its opening by the quarter-circle walls'A and A If a greater elevation is desired, place the end of link in its rest a. The other pin P is seated, as at N, in the opposite coupler 'A, Fig. 2. When the couplers are brought in contact upon the same plane or the former upon a higher plane within the radius of the opening of the link-cavity, the link L, striking within the radius of said opening, is directed and guided by the convex converging quartercircle walls A and A to and within cavity a. The circular front of the coupling coming in contact each with the other immediately unseats the pin P and it drops through the link L, and the coupling is made automatically. The springs S S, yielding to the force of contact between the couplers A, the draw-bars B recede, extending the rear springs and compressing the front springs of each combination. Forward movements actuate the reverse operation of said springs S S, providing for the movements of the draw-bar B,

elastic resistance preventing violence and injury, and substituting therefor safety and comfort. I

Inasmuch as the coupling-link L and pin P, made in accordance with my invention, are abstractly common in form, I do not claim such, broadly; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a separable coupling combination, of a separable coupler having a coupling-1ink, L, and pinP, a circular front to link-opening having quarter-circle walls A and A ,converging from the contour of said front blending with the semicircle and threequarter-circle walls of inner cavity,a,of elliptical form, and link-rest a of crescent form, a pin-hole, H, with seat N, and a clutch end separable device having three sections, the central one with a vertical hole through its center,or equivalents, all substantially as and v opening, each equal and bisecting the other] longitudinally,provided with the guide-rest I,

secured to the vertical endof said draw-bar with bar-key t, and mortise-holes provided therefor, or equivalents, all substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a separable coupling combination, the

crimp-spring S,having depending right-angled ends with a hole through each provided with a small rod, chain, or other equivalent for security, and a separable pin, h, with a hole through its lower end, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a separable coupling combination,the attachment having connecting-bars O G with angles 1 2 3 front,and O 0 rear, and a mortisehole in the vertical side of angles 1 and O of each, guide-bar g, with a tenon .on the ends of each and a mortise-hole through each equally distant from the corresponding ends, a co-ordinate bar, U, with a. mortise-hole through each end provided with pins, bolts, keys, or other means of security, and a mortise-hole vertically through its center, or an equivalent bar, and a coupler-rest, R, having the form of a rectangled parallelogram orother required form, all substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. The combination, in a separable coupling combination, of the coupler A, draw-bar B, springs S, and attachments, all substantially as set forth.

JAMES R. AVERY. Witnesses:

ALBERT S. WILLIs,

J. F. CLAY. 

